🎓 Year 5 and Year 6

11 Plus Exam Preparation
Online Tutoring for Grammar School Entry

One-to-one online preparation for selective school entrance tests, covering Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning, timed practice and test technique. Every plan is built around your child’s target school and its current published test format.

✓ One-to-one, Years 5 and 6
✓ GL Assessment and school-specific formats
11 Plus Preparation at NLG
4
core areas: Maths, English, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning
265K+
lessons delivered by NLG tutors across the UK
9,000+
students supported by NLG
🎓Target School Matching
🏆National Tutoring Award Winners
★Trustpilot Excellent
🔐DBS-Checked Tutors
Sound Familiar?

Why Parents Search for an 11 Plus Tutor

These are the situations parents describe when they come to NLG for 11 Plus support.

🎓
"We do not know where to start with 11 Plus preparation and the exam is 12 months away."
Starting early is the right instinct. The tutor begins by finding out which areas need the most attention, then builds a structured plan from there. Many families start in Year 5, but the right starting point depends on the child and the target test date.
✏️
"Their Maths and English are fine at school but the reasoning questions are completely new to them."
Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning are not part of the standard primary curriculum, so even able pupils often find them unfamiliar. Tutors teach the question types, methods and timing strategies that help children approach reasoning tests with a consistent method.
⏳
"They know the content but are too slow under timed conditions and do not finish the papers."
Speed under time pressure is one of the most common 11 Plus problems. Tutors build timed practice in from early on, so pupils learn to pace themselves before the real test.
😔
"They are getting anxious about the exam and their performance is inconsistent under pressure."
Test anxiety is very common in Year 6. Regular practice in the format and conditions of the target test means less feels new or surprising on the day.
Core 11 Plus Areas

What Does 11 Plus Tutoring Cover at NLG?

Selective tests assess different combinations of these areas. Preparation focuses on the ones included in your target school’s current published format.

11 Plus Maths
Core Maths topics tested in most 11 Plus formats
Number and operationsFractions and decimals Algebra and sequencesGeometry and measures Data and statisticsProblem solving
11 Plus English
Language skills for GL Assessment and school-specific formats
Reading comprehensionVocabulary Grammar and punctuationSpelling Cloze procedureCreative writing
🧠
Verbal Reasoning
Common verbal reasoning question types practised systematically
Codes and sequencesWord relationships AnalogiesNumber series Letter patternsHidden words
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Non-Verbal Reasoning
Spatial reasoning and pattern recognition
Shape rotationMirror images MatricesOdd one out SequencesCode by shape
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Timed Practice and Speed
The skills that turn ability into marks under pressure
Timed conditionsElimination strategies Paper managementChecking answers Confidence building
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Mock Papers
Simulated exam conditions throughout the programme
GL-style familiarisationSchool-specific formats Full marking and feedbackProgress tracking Exam day preparation
GL Assessment
GL Assessment provides 11 Plus admissions tests and official familiarisation materials across English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. The combination used by a school or consortium can vary. View GL familiarisation materials
Why the Target School Matters
Tests differ by school, consortium and year. For example, the West Midlands Grammar Schools test for 2027 entry uses two GL Assessment papers. See Birmingham guidance. Always confirm the current format and deadlines with your school or local authority.
Know your target school?Tell us the school and test date. We will match a tutor to that format.
Find an 11 Plus Tutor →
Lesson Format

How 11 Plus Lessons Are Delivered

11 Plus preparation is delivered through live one-to-one online lessons.

Most Targeted
1:1 Online 11 Plus Tutoring
✓A dedicated tutor focused entirely on your child
✓First lesson identifies priorities, then a personalised plan follows
✓Matched to the target school’s current published test format
✓Timed mock papers with marking and feedback
✓Weekly billing with clear cancellation terms
Find an 11 Plus Tutor →
How It Works

From Enquiry to First 11 Plus Session

Matching time varies with the target school, preparation needs and tutor availability.

✓No scrolling through tutor profiles: we do the matching
✓Live online lessons with interactive practice tools
✓DBS-checked tutors and safeguarding-led online tuition
1
Tell Us About Your Child and Target School
Share the year group, target school, known test format and the areas your child finds hardest.
2
We Match an 11 Plus Specialist
We look for a tutor who knows that test format and is free when your child is.
3
First Lesson
The tutor reviews the areas in the target test and sets the priorities.
4
Structured Preparation to Exam Day
Weekly lessons build through each area, with timed practice and mock-style questions, adjusted as the test approaches.
Why Families Choose NLG

Preparation Built Around the Target Test

11 Plus arrangements are not the same across England. NLG starts with your target school and your child’s current needs, then focuses on the relevant content, timed practice and test technique.

National Learning Group is rated Excellent on Trustpilot. Every tutor is DBS checked, and safeguarding processes are built into all online lessons.

Trust and safeguarding
Read NLG Reviews →
Meet Some of Our Tutors
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Every Question Answered

11 Plus Preparation FAQs

The questions parents ask most about 11 Plus tutoring at NLG.

About This Page
✓Reviewed quarterly
✓Years 5 and 6
✓DBS-checked tutors
✓Trustpilot Excellent
✓9,000+ students
✓265K+ lessons

Many families begin in Year 5 so there is time to build familiarity and timed practice gradually. Starting in Year 6 can still help when the test date and priority gaps are clear. The plan should be based on your child’s starting point, not a fixed number of months.

There is no single 11 Plus test used everywhere. GL Assessment provides tests covering English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal or Spatial Reasoning, while schools and consortia can set different combinations and timings. Tell us your target school so preparation matches its current published requirements.

Yes, and it is one of the most common starting points. Reasoning is not part of the standard primary curriculum, so tutors teach each question type with a clear method, then build accuracy and pace through timed practice.

There is no fixed number. It depends on the test date, your child’s starting point, the areas in the target test and how much practice fits alongside school. The tutor uses the first lessons to shape the plan.

Yes. Timed mock papers are built into the programme, with marking and feedback afterwards to show which areas to focus on next.

NLG provides online 11 Plus preparation for families across England. Test formats and admissions rules vary by area, so tell us the target school and confirm the latest arrangements with the relevant admissions authority.

It can still be worth starting, but the plan needs to be realistic. Tutors focus on the highest-priority content, question formats and pacing for the target test, without promising a particular result.

Get Started

Ready to Start Your Child's 11 Plus Preparation?

Tell us your child’s year group and target school. We will match a tutor to that test.

Best First Step
Find an 11 Plus Tutor
Share the target school, known test format and the areas your child finds hardest, and we will check a suitable match.
Find a Tutor →